Submarine USS O-5 (SS-66)

Submarine USS O-5 (SS-66) was authorized to be built by the United States Congressional Act of 3 March 1915, which stated in part:

"...Two submarines to be of seagoing type to have a surface speed of twenty-five knots or more if possible, but not less than twenty knots, to cost, exclusive of armor and armament, not exceeding $1,500,000 each, and sixteen submarines to cost, exclusive of armor and armament, not exceeding $550,000 each, and the sum of $4,090,000 is here-by appropriated for said purpose to be available until expended.

. . . . .

"Five of the submarine torpedo boats herein authorized shall be built on the Pacific coast: PROVIDED, That the cost of construction on the Pacific coast does not exceed the cost of construction on the Atlantic coast plus the cost of transportation from the Atlantic to the Pacific..."

The keel of USS O-5 (SS-66) was laid down on 8 December 1916 by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company at Quincy, Massachusetts ... under a subcontract from the Electric Boat Company of New York. The submarine was christened by Mrs. Frank T. Cable and launched on 11 November 1917. Commissioning took place on 8 June 1918 with Lieutenant George A. Trever in command.

When commissioned, the O-1 Class coastal and harbor defense submarine was 172'4" in length overall; had an extreme beam of 18'; had a normal surface displacement of 521 tons, and, when in that condition, had a mean draft of 14'5". Submerged displacement was 629 tons. The submarine was of riveted construction. The designed compliment was two officers and twenty-seven enlisted men. The boat could operate safely to depths of 200 feet. The submarine was armed with four 18-inch torpedo tubes installed in the bow. Eight torpedoes were carried. One 3-inch/23 caliber deck gun was installed. The gun was stowed below the superstructure deck when not in use. The full load of diesel oil carried was 21,897 gallons, which fueled 880 designed brake horsepower diesel engines manufactured by the New London Ship and Engine Company at Groton, Connecticut, which could drive the boat at fourteen knots on the surface in a relatively calm sea. Submerged propulsion was provided by a 120-cell main storage battery ... manufactured by the Electric Storage Battery Company (EXIDE) at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ... which powered 740 designed brake horsepower main propulsion electric motors manufactured by the Electro Dynamic Company at Bayonne, New Jersey ... which turned propeller shafts ... which turned propellers ... which could drive the submarine at 10.5 knots for a short period of time when operating beneath the surface of the sea. Slower submerged speeds resulted in greater endurances before the batteries needed to be recharged by the engines and generators.

During the final months of the First World War, USS O-5 (SS-66) operated along the Atlantic coast of the United States and patrolled from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Key West, Florida.

USS O-5 departed Newport, Rhode Island, on 3 November 1918 with a 20-submarine contingent bound for European waters. However, the fighting portion of the First World War ceased when the terms of the 11 November 1918 Armistice went into effect ... before the submarines reached the Azores. Therefore, the submarines reversed course and headed back to the United States.

After the Armistice, USS O-5 operated out of the United States Naval Submarine Base at New London/Groton, Connecticut ... providing services to the Submarine School located there ... until 1923. Then, USS O-5 transited to Coco Solo in the Panama Canal Zone for a brief tour of duty. On 28 October 1923, as USS O-5 entered Limon Bay, preparatory to transiting the Panama Canal, the submarine was rammed by the United Fruit Company steamer "Abangarez" and sank in less than a minute ... with a loss of three men.

Later, the submarine was raised.

USS O-5 (SS-66) was struck from the Navy Register on 28 April 1924.

On 12 December 1924, USS O-5 (SS-66) was sold as a hulk to R. K. Morris at Balboa in the Panama Canal Zone for subsequent scrapping.

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